You may pay certain fines or fees online by visiting the link. You may also pay any court fines or fees in person by visiting the Stafford County Courthouse located at 1300 Courthouse Rd., Stafford, VA 22554 during regular office hours, 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM. Pay Fees Online

The Virginia Department of Transportation handles all snow removal on public roads in Stafford. You may contact them directly by dialing (800) 367-7623. Visit the VDOT website for additional information. VDOT

You can apply for employment with Stafford County Government or Stafford County Schools by visiting our Human Resources Department, located in the George L. Gordon Government Center, 1300 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22554 or via our website. Apply Online!

The Stafford Board of Supervisors conducts meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the George L. Gordon, Jr. Government Center, located at 1300 Courthouse Rd., Stafford, VA 22554. The meetings start at 3:00 PM and then again at 7:00 PM.Board of Supervisors

If you are interested in volunteering with our Fire and Rescue Department or with one of our local volunteer fire departments, please contact Stafford County Fire and Rescue directly by dialing (540) 658-7200.

There are a few steps that you will need to take to ensure your business gets up and running properly. You should first contact the Commissioner of the Revenue in order to have tax information processed. You can contact the Commissioner’s Office directly by dialing (540) 658-4132.

You may also wish to contact our Economic Development Department and request a new business packet. This will help you ensure that every step of the process has been addressed. You can contact our Economic Development Department directly by dialing (540) 658-8681.

Animal Control

The Animal Shelter is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am until 5:30 pm and Saturday from 9:30 am until 4:00 pm. The Animal Shelter is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and most holidays. However, animal reclaims are allowed on Mondays.

The Animal Shelter is located at 473 Eskimo Hill Road at the Stafford Landfill. We are approximately five miles north of the Falmouth Bridge and approximately two miles south of the Stafford Courthouse and Government complex off of Jefferson Davis Highway (Route 1). From Route 1, the Animal Shelter is located two miles down on the left. A sign is visible from the roadway.

Puppies and kittens receive their first DA2PP or FVRCP vaccinations (canine distemper or feline distemper vaccinations). Puppies and kittens are also dewormed with Strongid. We currently do not test for heartworm or feline leukemia. If an owner turns in a dog or a cat, we try to obtain its vaccination history.

Stafford County Animal Control has a foster program. We foster animals under certain circumstances, such as un-weaned puppies and kittens, animals being held for court cases, special needs animals and adoptable animals when space is limited. Please call us at (540)658-7387 for more information. A home check will be required.

You can make a complaint by calling the Stafford County Animal Control office at (540) 658-7387. If the facility is closed, you will be directed to the Sheriff Department communications dispatch. Complaints can also be made by emailing us.

Yes, an Animal Control Officer is available 24/7. If you call our facility after hours, you will be directed to the Sheriff Department communications office which can get in touch with the on-call Animal Control Officer.

Yes, there are leash laws for dogs in Stafford County. In residential areas a dog must be on its owner's property at all times. If off of the owner's property, the dog must be on a leash with the owner or custodian. During the months of April through September, there is a county-wide leash law. All dogs in Stafford County must then be kept on its owner's property.

Dogs do have to be registered in Stafford County. The license fee is $5.00 for a fixed (spayed or neutered) dog and $10.00 for an unfixed dog for a one year license. Stafford County also sells a three year license for $15.00 for a fixed dog and $30.00 for an unfixed dog. A rabies certificate and proof of spay or neuter must be provided to obtain a dog license. A dog license can be obtained at the Stafford County Animal Shelter or at the Stafford County Treasurer's Office. A dog license call also be obtained by downloading the dog license application from the Treasurer's Office website and mailing it in with the needed information to the address provided. Currently cats do not have to be licensed in Stafford County.

Currently, there is no leash law for cats in Stafford County. Cats are considered "free-roaming" animals. We will take in any cats found in Stafford County at the Animal Shelter during our normal hours of operation. We also lend out humane cat traps for Stafford residents to use to trap feral cats. A cat trap can be used for a two week time period.

There is a noise ordinance under the Sheriff's Office laws. Under the noise ordinance there is a section regarding animals. The Stafford County Animal Control will speak to an owner about the dog or other animal making noise. However, if the noise continues to be a problem for the complainant, the complainant may have to obtain a warrant for the owner at the magistrates office to go to court. Call Stafford County Animal Control at (540) 658-7387 for more information regarding the noise ordinance.

We will handle sick and injured wildlife calls. We will also assist in removing snakes and some wildlife from houses when possible. However, most nuisance wildlife calls are handled by the Game Warden office at (540)899-4169. We will be glad to offer some advice if feasible.

Commissioner of Revenue

The Treasurer's office collects taxes. The Commissioner's office assesses and reassesses property and generates the personal property and real estate books. It is the Treasurer's responsibility to prepare tax bills and collect tax money.

The Commissioner of the Revenue is not a legislative position. The Commissioner implements legislation passed either by the State Legislature or by the Board of Supervisors but does not have the authority to pass any legislation.

The Commissioner of the Revenue's office does not set tax rates. It is the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to set personal property and real estate tax rates. The Commissioner's office reassesses real estate every two years to ensure your property is assessed as fairly, equitably and accurately as possible. Sec. 58.1-3201 of the Virginia tax code requires localities to assess Real Estate at 100% of fair market value. Accuracy in assessments is very important. If assessments fall too far below market value, state funding can be reduced or ultimately denied.

No. Your assessment is only used to distribute the tax burden. The Board of Supervisors, through the tax rate, creates the tax burden. The tax rate will be set in April. The reassessment ensures that the burden is distributed fairly and equitably.

No. Once a reassessment is completed the tax rate is automatically adjusted to offset the effects of the reassessment and ensure that the real estate tax base does not increase by more than 1% over the previous year. This rate is referred to as the effective tax rate. (Code of Virginia 58.1-3321) The Board of Supervisors can only increase the tax rate above the effective rate if they hold a public hearing.

The Stafford County code requires the Commissioner of the Revenue to reassess property every two years. Property is to be assessed at 100% of the fair market value. (Article X Sec. 2 Constitution of Virginia)

General Reassessment

The Stafford County code requires the Commissioner of the Revenue to reassess property every two years. Property is to be assessed at 100% of the fair market value. (Article X Sec. 2 Constitution of Virginia)

No. The Board of Supervisors through the tax rate determines what your tax bill will be through the tax rate. They will set the rate in April as part of the County budget process. The purpose of this reassessment is to determine the fair market value of the property, not to increase county revenue or your tax bill.

Since the total value of the county’s tax base grew by less than 1% the effective rate would be $1.01. Since the reassessment did not increase property values by more than 1% the Code of Virginia §58.1-3321 does not require the effective rate to be advertised.

A number of state funding sources for the County are tied to the accuracy of property assessments. If assessments fall too far below market value state funding can be reduced or even withheld. The best way to ensure that property is accurately assessed is to continuously verify and correct the data we have on all properties.

If you feel your assessment does not reflect the true market value of your property or is not comparable to similar properties, you may have a case to appeal your assessment. Please do not appeal if you think your property value changed by too large a percentage, or if you do not want to pay more in taxes. In these cases an appeal is not justified.

No. While the Commissioner’s office does work closely with the Board on many issues, the assessment process is completely independent of the Board of Supervisors and county staff. The reassessment is conducted by the Commissioner of the Revenue who is an independently elected official. All concerns or appeals should be made directly to the Commissioner’s Office, not to your local supervisor.

Our most popular maps are already printed & updated as conditions change. The go to the GIS page anc click on County Maintained Maps. You may visit our office to pick up a printed map or have a custom one made. Cost can vary. Please email gis@co.stafford.va.us for more information. Website

Human Resources

Each job vacancy has a specified closing date, after the closing date it usually takes between one to two weeks for the Department Director to look over the applications and decide which applicants should be interviewed. If the position is "Open Until Filled" or "Continuous Recruitment", the hiring process would be mentioned in the job announcement.

You will be called by the Department of Human Resources or the specific Department who will be hiring. Be sure to put an accurate phone or cell phone number on your application where you can be reached.

If you are chosen you will be called and offered the position from the Department of Human Resources about one to two weeks after the interview. Delays sometimes occur when calling references, and they do not return calls. Or, if the Department of Human Resources does not receive the driving record (if required by the position) from the applicant during the initial interview, and would have to be submitted to Human Resources before the hiring process can take place.

When a position becomes available, the Department of Human Resources issues an announcement for the position which contains a brief job description, required minimum experience, qualifications, licenses, certifications, etc. You must apply online by 4:30 p.m. on the job closing date.

You can apply online by simply selecting the job you are interested in, then select "APPLY".

It is very important that you fill out the application completely even if you attach a resume. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of the information that you have provided on the application itself. Be sure to include typing speed, special skills, certifications and licenses. Your resume will only be reviewed for clarification purposes.

Notify the Department of Human Resources immediately. We will make the necessary changes to your records. If we are unable to contact you because you have moved or changed your phone number, your name may be withdrawn from further consideration.

Each application is given careful consideration. The volume of applications received is generally large, and the screening process can take several weeks. We realize it can be frustrating, but please be patient.

The aspects of the selection process vary depending on the position. For example, an application screening and selection interview may be all that is required. Or, you may be required to pass a written exam. A performance test may be required for a position requiring certain skills, such as typing or the operation of heavy equipment.

Any decision made regarding the applicants to be tested is based on the requirements of the position. Only those candidates whose experience and training most closely match the County’s requirements for the position will be contacted to take part in the competitive testing process.

Be certain that you know where and when to report, who the interviewer is, and the position for which you are being considered. This is important if you have applied for more than one position. Be sure to obtain the name and phone number of the person who contacted you for the interview.

Human Services

It is a 1993 Virginia Law that provided for the pooling of eight specific funding streams used to purchase services for high-risk youth. These funds are returned to localities with a required state/local match and are managed by local interagency teams. The purpose of the act is to provide high quality, child centered, family focused, cost effective, community based-services to high risk youth and their families.

In 1989, the General Assembly became concerned because the cost of providing residential treatment to high risk youth was increasing at approximately 22% each year. Because of this, a study of children in residential care was conducted. Fourteen thousand records from four different state agencies were examined. Subsequent analysis showed that services were provided to only 4,993 individual children. In addition, 9 out of 10 of these children returned to their home communities where necessary changes in the child's community environment had not been made. The progress achieved in the residential facility was often lost.

At the point, it was decided that high quality, less restrictive, community based-services would be provided to these children if the funds were managed at the local level. There is a local case match required to access the state CSA funds.

The Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) is made up of at least one elected or appointed official or his designee and the agency heads or their designee from the local Department of Social Services, School System, Community Services Board (mental health), Court Services Unit (juvenile justice), local Health Department, a parent and, where appropriate, a private provider. This team has administrative and fiscal responsibility for the local funds pool, for developing local policies and procedures and appointment members of the Family Assessment and Planning Team.

The Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) is comprised of the supervisory level staff from the same agencies as the CPMT as well as the parent and private providers. These teams work with the families to develop the Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP). If the services needed are beyond what is available in the participating agencies and there are no other family or community resources available, the team may choose to purchase them with local CSA pool funds.

In general, the children who would have been served by one of the funding streams placed in the pool are targeted for services through the CSA. The children who would have been served by the education funds and/or the foster care funds placed in the pool are considered "mandated" for service. This is because there is "sum sufficient' language attached to them in the Federal law and/or the Code of Virginia. These special education and foster care children are the only populations state and local governments are required to appropriate sufficient funds to serve.

No! If funds are available, localities may choose to serve other children with emotional or behavioral problems, especially those with multi agency involvement. Parents will be required to contribute financially toward the cost of CSA-funded services.

In the County of Stafford, "non-mandated" funds are available for identified children. These funds are limited and the County of Stafford is not required to appropriate sufficient funds to serve this population.

Each locality develops its own policies and procedures governing how families access the teams. Some localities allow parents to self-refer, some allow any local agency to bring a case and many require that one of the agencies who serve on the team be the point of contact for the family.

Stafford County allows the Department of Social Services, Stafford County Public Schools, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, the Court Services Unit to make referrals for potential funding. Stafford County will accept a parental referral but requires one of the mandated agencies to case manage and be the point of contact between the FAPT and the family. For more information, please contact the CSA office staff at (540) 658-4622 or (540) 658-4619.

A preliminary conference with the planning staff of the Department of Planning and Zoning is required before making application for rezoning or conditional use permits. You may call (540) 658-8668 to set an appointment.

The location of the property to be discussed, identified by tax map and parcel numbers, is useful information you may want to supply when making an appointment for a conference.

The planner you meet with will inform you of the application procedures and deadlines, as well as tentative hearing dates. The first public hearing usually takes place within 3 months of the application submission deadline. The rezoning process generally takes 4 to 6 months to complete.

Please see online forms for updated fees and information on rezoning and conditional use permits.

Call the Department of Planning and Zoning at (540) 658-8668, if you have any additional questions.

Public Works

Whenever you construct, reconstruct, enlarge, alter, or demolish a structure, a permit is required prior to starting the work. If you are unsure if your project requires a permit, please contact the Building Division at (540) 658-8650.The following are examples of work that require a building permit (see USBC 108.1):• Alteration of any required means of egress• Building a new house• Building an addition onto an existing house or attached garage• Converting an existing deck or screened porch into a sunroom• Building an attached or detached garage or carport• Converting a garage to a habitable space or enclosing a carport• Building a porch, screened porch, deck, associated steps, ramp, pergola, portico, or gazebo• Building or installing a tool shed over 256 square feet in area Please note that a zoning permit is required for all sheds.• Finishing off an unfinished attic, basement, or room over the garage• Installing a flag pole over 30’ in height• Moving or removing a load bearing wall or partition• Retaining wall which support 3 or more feet of unbalanced fill• Bulkheads, piers, and docks• Repairing, altering, enlarging or modifying any structural element of the house, including any damaged structural element, such as load bearing stud walls, columns, piers, footings, foundations, floor joists, rafters, beams or girders• Replacing/adding fuel fired equipment • Enlarging or adding a door opening or window opening• Changing the use of the structure (example: change from residential use to business use)• Installing a pool, hot tub or spa greater than 150 square feet, 5000 gallons, OR 24" deep• Re-roofing commercial buildings• New electrical wiring or circuits• Movement of lot line that increases hazard or safety of existing structure• Removal or disturbance of any material containing asbestos for demolition or alteration of a building• Demolition of an existing structure

The building code allows some work to be done without obtaining a permit. While a permit is not required, the work must be in compliance with the code. Some examples of work that does not require a permit include (see USBC 108.2):• Making ordinary repairs and improvements, including, but not limited to:o Painting the inside or outside of the house or detached structureso Repairing drywall, plaster, exterior siding, etc.o Installing new floor coverings, such as vinyl, carpet, or hardwoodo Installing or refurbishing cabinetryo Repairing or replacing porch or deck flooring boards Please note a permit is required to repair or replace the joists or girders.o Repairing or replacing handrails on a porcho Installing or replacing doors and windows, including storm windows, where no structural changes are performedo Installing or replacing exterior sidingo Residential re-roofing: Old shingle roof can be left in place provided that there are not more than two previous layers of shingles and that the existing shingles are not water saturated.o Installing or replacing gutters and downspoutso Repairing or replacing siding• Installing driveways or sidewalks• Constructing or installing a storage shed, playhouse, etc, 256 square feet or less in area Zoning permit required. • Adding a fence (which is not part of a swimming pool enclosure) and which is 6' or less in height Refer to subdivision covenants (if applicable)• Building recreational equipment, such as swings, skateboard ramps, jungle gyms, etc.• Adding roof insulation• Installing any wiring or equipment which operates at less than 50 volts• Installing a security alarm system• Replacing existing electrical water heater with a new electric water heater• Replacing electrical fixtures, such as switches and receptacles• Installing or replacing a ceiling fan to a pre-wired switch• Replacing plumbing fixtures, such as sinks• Replacing or repairing existing mechanical appliances (of equal size and type) This exception is not applicable to gas and oil fired appliances.• Temporary ADA ramps with less than 30” rise for residential properties

If the neighbor appears to be building without a permit, you can call the Department of Public Works Building Division at (540) 658-8650 and file a report. Someone from the County will follow-up and determine if a building permit is required and if one has been issued.

The responsible party will be required to submit construction documents showing the extent of the work, a building permit will be issued "after the fact", and an inspector will determine if any of the elements of the construction must be exposed to see if the work complies with the code. The responsible party may be required to expose any concealed portion(s) of the completed work to prove that the work meets code. After the work has been inspected and approved, the structure can be lawfully occupied.

Construction plans are a critical aspect of the construction process. The complete construction drawings serve many capacities including but not limited to:• Outlining materials and methods of construction• Clarifying the scope of work for the understanding of all parties involved (contractor, owner/occupant, inspector, etc.)• Serve as an archived record of the proposed work (as required by the Commonwealth of Virginia)• Serve as a means of confirmation of structural adequacy by the plan reviewer

Correcting a deficiency after installation is often difficult and costly; a detailed set of plans greatly reduces the potential for this to occur. A good set of construction plans benefits everyone involved in the construction process.

This will vary depending on your project and our staff’s current workload. You may check the progress of your permit online by visiting http://hello.stafford.va.us/Build . You will need your A/P number to use this site. Economic and seasonal influences can effect review times significantly. It is our priority to review your plan quickly and efficiently. You will be notified when your permit has been approved and is ready to be issued.

No. Because your application is simultaneously routed to several different departments for review, we need all the required information and documentation when you apply. Incomplete or inadequate information will result in failures and delays in the review process.

Generally speaking permits are valid for six (6) months from the date that the permit is issued. Every time an inspection is scheduled, the permit extends for an additional six (6) months. There are some exceptions and limitations to this that are outlined in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC section 110.6, 110.7 and 110.8.)

If no work has been completed within six (6) months of the issuance of a permit, you must request an extension of the permit. If there has not been a completed inspection within six (6) months and the permit holder can demonstrate “substantive progress” the Building Official may allow work to continue without revocation. There is an administrative fee located in the fee schedule that must be paid in order to extend your permit. (see USBC 110.6, 110.7 and 110.8)

If you meet the requirements for an exemption as outlined in The Code of Virginia TITLE 54.1-1101, you do not have to hire a licensed contractor. In most cases a homeowner would not have to hire a contractor. The permit holder is responsible for the work performed under that permit, and should have a clear understanding of code requirements and specifications and should come prepared to answer questions to clarify aspects of the project. An Affidavit of Owner will need to be filled out and notarized if you are the owner and will be applying for a permit. Affidavit of Owner

You can schedule your inspections by phone at (540) 658-4151 or online at http://hello.stafford.va.us. You will need your A/P number, password (located on your permit receipt), and the three digit inspection code.

The Building inspectors are assigned their workload in the morning. This can consist of inspections requested previously, training, court appearances and issuing enforcement notices. In order to balance their time the inspectors must arrange their workday before leaving the office each morning. You may schedule your inspections on our automated systems up until 11:00 PM for the following workday.

The inspectors are able to give approximate times by giving a morning time frame or an afternoon time frame. The inspector makes many stops at different job sites during the day. Often problems occur where the inspector cannot leave the job site due to the permit holder having other questions, or there could be emergencies where an inspector must abandon the route set in the morning to attend to the emergency call. Rather than commit to an exact time when the inspector will be at your job site, and not be able to meet the commitment due to unforeseen circumstances, the Building Division will only supply “morning” or “afternoon” inspection approximations. Contact your inspector the morning of your scheduled inspection for an approximated time, by calling (540) 658-8950 between 7:00 - 7:30 am . We ask for your patience as time approximations can be difficult to accommodate.

When scheduling an inspection for your job, this signals to the inspector that you have completed all necessary and code required elements for the inspection type requested. Once the inspector is on site and begins the inspection, noting each code violation, there will come a point where it is obvious to the inspector that there are too many code violations for the inspection type to warrant a full inspection. In this case, the inspection will be stopped and the items noted thus far on the “field correction notice” along with stopped inspection, not a complete inspection, "NOT READY”. This signals to the requester that the inspection is not complete and there are too many items to list. The requester must “walk” through the job and make corrections prior to rescheduling the inspection. When applying for a permit, whether by a licensed contractor or a homeowner completing their own work, a degree of knowledge and expertise is expected and required in the work under the permit as part of the application.

All inspections are, if possible, completed by the date they are scheduled. There are times due to number/ volume of inspections or personnel staffing where all inspections scheduled for a given day may not be completed. If the inspector sees they will not complete their inspection schedule for the day, the inspector will rank the inspections based on priority. The following project types may receive priority at the inspector’s discretion:

• Holdovers from the previous day• Homeowners (as many take time from work to meet the inspector)• Concrete pours as the concrete delivery is scheduled and anticipated• Final inspections for new homes (as this affects closing dates and moving plans)• Ditches/ trenches that pose a hazard• Electrical service inspections that require power interruptions

As you can see there are many circumstances that require a sense of urgency. We appreciate your patience as we make every effort to provide efficient service to Stafford County residents and contractors.

Yes, public open houses will be held in the late spring, summer and early fall of 2013 at key project milestones to present project information and gain input from local constituents. The first set of meetings will be in late May and early June:

As part of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget, the Board of Supervisors approved a holiday for the 2014 Vehicle License Fee. Please note that your personal property bill reflects the Vehicle License Fee at $0.00.

In addition, the Board of Supervisors lowered the Personal Property tax rate to $6.61.

I just paid off my mortgage; who do I need to contact regarding tax bills?If you just paid off your mortgage and would like the tax bills sent to your current address, please call the mortgage clerk at (540) 658-8700 or email jodriscoll@staffordcountyva.gov to update our records. Please include the property address or map number. Real Estate taxes are billed bi-annually; due dates June 5 and December 5. Tax bills are typically mailed the first week of May and the first week of November.

Why did I receive my real estate tax bill in the mail when my mortgage company escrows for my taxes?If you received your real estate tax bill in the mail and you believe your mortgage company is responsible for payment, contact your lender, write your loan number on the bill and forward it to the mortgage company. You can contact the Treasurer’s Office at (540) 658-8700 to verify payment has been received.

The Stafford County Treasurer's Office makes every effort to produce and publish the most current and accurate property tax information possible. No warranties, expressed or implied, are provided for the data herein, for its use, or its interpretation. Neither Stafford County nor the Treasurer's Office assumes any liability associated with use or misuse of this data. Click Here For Taxes Paid

The Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998 provides tax relief for passenger cars, motorcycles, and pickup or panel trucks having a registered gross weight of less than 7,501 pounds. To qualify, a vehicle must • be owned by an individual or leased by an individual under a contract requiring the individual to pay the personal property tax; AND• be used 50% or less for business purposes.Motor homes, trailers and farm use vehicles do not qualify for tax relief.

If your vehicle is improperly qualified or you are uncertain whether your vehicle would be eligible for car tax relief because it is used part of the time for business purposes, contact the Stafford County Commissioner of the Revenue at (540) 658-4132 or email to commrev@co.stafford.va.us.

When you pay your Stafford County taxes on qualified vehicles, you are certifying that personal property tax relief is given only to personal use vehicles.

Utilities

You may go to the Department of Utilities office and apply in person at least 24 hours prior to the time you want your service to be initiated.

You may apply for service over the telephone at least 24 hours in advance. Call (540) 658-8616 and an application will be mailed to you. From the date the application is mailed to you, you will have ten (10) days to mail the appropriate fee to the Department of Utilities. If payment is not made within ten (10) days, your water and/or sewer service(s) will be terminated.

There is an $94 fee required to obtain water and sewer service. This fee is not a deposit. It covers the following:

$10.00 Administrative fee for water service (non-refundable). $10.00 Administrative fee for sewer service (non-refundable). $37.00 Water advance service fee. $37.00 Sewer advance service fee.

The $37.00 water and sewer advance service fees are considered advance payments on your final bill.

Accounts may be closed by telephone (540) 658-8616 or in person. It is important to provide us with your forwarding address. Your water meter will be read on the date that you have requested your service to be terminated. A final bill will be sent to your new address. If your final bill is less than your advance payment, a refund will be sent to your new address. Please allow approximately three weeks for this to happen.

• Water and sewer bills may be paid by telephoning 1-888-2PAYTAX (1-888-272-9829) Jurisdiction Code 1002. Please note: Payments made will be posted to county records the following business day.

• You may make your payment by bank draft at no cost to you. To obtain a Bank Draft Authorization Form, contact the Utilities Department at 658-8625 or 658-8616 or go to staffordcountyva.gov/departments/Utilities/forms to download the form.

• You may make your payment by mail. (See bill for address).

• You may make your payment at the Treasurer’s Office on the second floor of the Stafford Administration Center. A computer terminal is also available in the Treasurer’s office to make payments. If county offices are closed, you may place your payment in the drop-box located on the wall at the main entrance of the building.

Payments must be received in the Treasurer’s Office by 12:00 noon on the due date to be considered paid on time. Please allow for a few days for the delivery if paying by mail.

Bills for water and sewer service are mailed each month and are due and payable when you receive them. They become past due 25 days from the billing date shown on the bill. A late payment, or no payment at all, will result in the following:

• A penalty of ten percent (10%) will be applied to your bill.

• Service will be discontinued if bills are not paid within the 15 days after the bill becomes past due.

• If service is discontinued because the bill was not paid within the time limit, the amount the account is in arrears must be paid plus an additional fee of $30.00 to have service reinstated. An additional $25 fee is charged if water is required to be turned back on after 4:30p.m.

You may have a water leak. There are several ways to check for a leak. One way is to check the indicator on your water meter. Make sure you have nothing inside using water when you do this. If the indicator is turning, then water is flowing through the meter. This could indicate a leak in the water service line between the meter and your home or building. Or it could indicate that water is being used inside the home or building.

To determine if you have a leak in your water service line, close off the main valve to your house and look at your water meter. If the indicator on the meter is turning, this is an indication that you have a leak in the pipe between your water meter and the main valve (though it could also mean that the main valve is not shutting off the water completely).

If the indicator on your water meter was turning but stopped when you shut the main valve, this indicates that something inside is using water. With the main valve open (and the indicator on the meter turning), turn off the valve to individual fixtures (toilets, sinks, etc.) one at a time. Check the indicator each time you turn off a fixture valve to see if it stops turning. If it does, the last fixture turned off is the culprit!

Toilets can often be the cause of a "mystery" water leak. Open the cover on the tank. If the water level is above the overflow tube, there is a problem. The water level should be approximately 1/2- inch or so below the top of the overflow pipe. Adjust the float level, so that the water is turned off at that level. If the valve controlled by the float is leaking, it may need to be replaced.

Toilet leaks can also be due to a leak at the flapper valve that lets water flow into the toilet bowl. To test for this, put a drop or two of food coloring into the tank (not the bowl). Wait for about 10 minutes and see if the colored water shows up in the bowl. If it does, your flapper valve may need to be replaced.

Normal business hours are 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Should a water or sewer- related emergency occur during those hours, call 658-8695. Should a water or sewer-related emergency occur during the evening, on weekends, or on holidays, call the Stafford Emergency Communications Center at 658-4857. The Department of Utilities has a crew on call at all times which can be dispatched by the Emergency Communications Center to respond to your emergency.

Unless you are sure the problem is in your line, call the Department of Utilities first! During normal working hours, call 658-8695. After normal working hours and on weekends and holidays, call 658-4857. We will send someone out to determine where the problem is. There is no charge for this service, and it may save you a plumber’s bill.

Usually the main water valve is located where the water supply pipe enters your home or office. It may be near your clothes washer or hot water heater. In some cases, it may be located under the house in the crawl space. Be sure to locate and mark the main water valve before you need it. That way, you will be able to find and close it quickly should a water leak occur.

Yes. Fluoride is added at the water treatment facilities. We try to maintain an average fluoride concentration between 0.9 and 1.1 parts per million. This is the level generally recommended to protect against tooth decay.

The plumbing code requires a pressure reducing valve (PRV) if your water pressure is over 80 psi. If your home was built prior to 1991, call us at (540) 658-8695 for information regarding a PRV. The builder should have installed a PRV, if needed, in homes built since 1991. If one was not installed, you will need to have one installed at your cost.

Periodic high pressure may be caused by a backflow preventer installed at your water meter or inside your building. As the water heater heats the water, the water expands. Since the expanding water can’t flow backwards through the backflow preventer, the water pressure increases. If the water pressure returns to normal shortly after turning on a faucet, this is most likely the cause of your high water pressure. You may need to reduce the temperature somewhat on your hot water heater and/or you may need to have an expansion tank installed. For more information, call your plumber or call us at 658-8695.

Low water pressure can be due to a water leak, a crimped water service line, or may simply be due to your home or building being situated at a high elevation. Customers whose pressure seems low should contact us to determine whether the low pressure is due to a piping problem or simply due to location. If the low pressure is determined to be due to location, you may need to have a water booster pump installed at your own cost.

Yes. We allow a maximum of one leak adjustment every three years. For the water portion of your bill, we charge you for no more than twice your normal water usage. If your water usage is less than twice your normal usage, we split the volume in excess of your normal water usage. Your sewer bill is adjusted to your normal usage, since none of the leak entered the sewer system.

Yes. We allow a maximum of one leak adjustment every three years. For the water portion of your bill, we charge you for no more than twice your normal water usage. The same applies to the sewer portion of your bill, since water from a toilet leak does enter the sewer system. If your usage is less than twice your normal usage, we split the volume in excess of your normal usage for both water and sewer.

Stafford’s water and sewer rates take outside water usage into consideration. The sewer portion of your bill is calculated based upon the lower of your actual usage or 120% of your November through April average water consumption. Therefore an adjustment would not be necessary.

In general, it is illegal to draw water from a fire hydrant. However, arrangements can be made through our office to use a fire hydrant for some purposes. For additional information, call our office at 658-8616.

Voter Registration

The State Board of Elections (SBE) website maintains a centralized database of state-wide voter registration and election related data. Visit the SBE site to look up your registration status. State Election & Registration Information System

Absentee voting provides a means for qualified voters to participate in upcoming elections even though they may not be able to go to the polls on election day. Absentee voting in person begins at least 45 days before most elections and ends for in-person absentee voters on the Saturday before the election.Absentee Voting

Woodlands Pool

Pool passes are available for purchase to Stafford residents only. Passes may be purchased at any of our parks and recreation offices; however, you will need to go to Woodlands Pool to have your picture taken for your card. Pool passes may be renewed online. Pool Pass Information